Knitting machine



R. K. MILLS KNITTING MACHINE Oct. 16, 1934.

l2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Mii/M HTTOR EXS Oct. 16, 1934. R K, MlLLs1,977,522.

KNITTING MACHINE Finch-.April 15. 1952 12 sheets-sheet .2

' Y zwaai IN VENT-0R A v 8 B y M MVv/@Z ATToR/v ys ct. 16, 1934. R. K.MILLS KNITTING MACHINE l FiledgApril 15, 1932 l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 in m595% Y W lnx/5L HTTRNE 5 R. K. MILLS.

KNITTING MACHINE iled l2 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTOE ys Oct. 16, 1934. R. K M||s 1,977,522

KNITTING MACHINE Filecmpril 15. 1952 12 sheets-sheet s o l 57a @et 16,1934n R. K. MILLS 1,977,522 KNITTING MACHINE FiledApril 15, 1932 12sheets-sheet 7 5a) f6; r-*mn g wwf/WOR /M A WOR/V527;

Oct. 16,- 1934. R. K. MILLS KNITTING MACHINE FiledgApril 15, 1952 l2Sheets-Sheet 8 Oct. 16, 1934.

KNITTING MACHINE /N VE N 0R l my@ R. K, MILLS 1,977,522

oct. 16, 1934.

F'iled;A'pril l5. 1932 12 ,sheets -sheet 1 1 116' '//l 119) /I Y l I l Qei i ,//4 'Waag @D f@ l e @P113 E L t /lVl/E /V TOR d WM A TTOR )f5 Oct-15, 1934- R. K. /MILLs y 1,977,522

KNITTING MACHINE FilechAprl 15, 1932 l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 InventorPatentedQ Oct. 116, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i KNITTING MACHINERobert Kirkland Mills,

Sherwood, Nottingham,

England, assigner to Hosiery Developments Limited, Nottingham, England13 Claims.

This invention comprises improvements in f knitting machines and in theLproduction of articles thereon, the main object of the invention beingto produce stockings, socks and the like composed of or embodyingknitted fabric which is immune or practically immune from laddering orroving.

To this end the present invention provides a knitting machineincorporating means for automatically manufacturing throughout acomplete seamless stocking or sock embodying ladder-` proof orladder-resisting, fabric composed of locked or tied knitted stitches.

Advantageously a stocking or sock as above is produced by the followingsequential operations,

is preferably of the circular type and emb0dies,`

in combinatioma knitting cam operating to produce locked or tiedstitches, a knitting cam operating to produce ordinary or normalstitches, separate thread feeding'means appertaining to each of saidknitting cams, and means Fwhereby the knitting cam and the associ tedthread feed for producing locked stitches e automatically renderedoperative and inoperative at predetermined times without interferingwith the'continued knitting operation by the ordinary knittingmechanism.

Advantageously the cam mechanism for producing the locked or tiedstitches andthe thread feed associated therewith are withdrawn fromoperation automatically during reciprocation of the machine, e. g.during the knitting `of the heel and toe portions of a stocking or sock.

In a machine as above means are also provided whereby when theneedle-operating cam device for producing the locked or tied stitches ismoved into and out of an operative position, a sinker cam deviceassociated with said needle-operating cam device is simultaneously andautomatically moved into and out of operation. 'Ihis sinker cam devicemay advantageously have associated therewith means whereby same can beadjusted both circumferentially and radially of the machine.

Several other improvements are embodied in the machine according to thepresent invention and are hereinafter fully described and set forth inthe appended claims, said improvements iricluding means for trapping andsevering thread fed by the feeding mechanism associated with the lockedstitch cam device when said `feeding mechanism is moved to aninoperative or nonfeeding position.

For the purpose of more fully describing the nature of this inventionvreference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure l illustratesin perspective the upper side of a needle cylinderand sinker carrier of a circular knitting machine, the sinker camcarrier, latch ring being omitted to show clearly the motion impartedto' the needles when producing ordinary and locking stitches insuccession.

Figure 2 shows a double latch needle suitable 70 for use on the machinein accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically a. de-\ velopment of a suitableneedle-operatingl cam system for ilse in the machine.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the relativedisposition around the needle cylinder of the cams shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates in side elevation one construction of automaticallydisplaceable needleoperating cam mechanism for producing locked or tiedstitches.

Figure 6 is a plan View of Figure 5 showing the cam mechanism in theoperative position.

Figure 7 is an interior elevation, somewhat 85 enlarged, of the cammechanism shown in Figures 5 and 6, the path traversed by the needlebutts being indicated.

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation on A-A of Figure '7. l

Figure 9 illustrates in elevation mechanism for imparting motion to asinker cam which operates inconjunction with the locked stitchneedle-operating cam mechanism shown in Figures 5 to 8.

Figure 10 is a plan of Figure 9.

Figure 1l is an enlarged plan view of a part of the mechanism shownjnFigure 10.

Figure 12 is an enlarged underside plan view of the sinker cam ring andcam mechanism operating upon the sinkers at the position of lockedstitch production.

' Figure 13 is an enlarged detail view in verticalsection illustrating asinker cam c oacting with a sinker at that position in the machine-where a new thread is being drawn by a retracting needle for producinga locked stitch.

Figure 14 illustrates in part sectional'elevation a thread feedassociated with a locked stitch needle-operating cam and means for.controlling the movement of said feed.

Figure 15 is a plan of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the thread feedshown in Figure 14.

Figure 17 illustrates in elevation mechanism applied to a stockingproducing machine for automatically adjusting the sinker cam carriercircumferentially relatively to the sinker carrier to maintain aconstant feeding position of thread between the needle latches forproducing locked stitches. "i

Figure 18 is a further elevational view of part of the mechanism shownin Figure 17 and looking in the direction indicated by arrow X.

Figure 19 is a plan of Figure 18.

Figure 20 illustrates in vertical section yarn trapping and cuttingmechanism for use on the machine. V

Figure 21 is a plan view of the trapping and cutting mechanism.

Figure 22 illustrates in elevation mechanism for producing tuck stitchmock fashion marks in stockings knitted on the machine, such mechanismbeing shown in an operative position.

Figure 23 is a plan view of Figure 22.

Figure 24 is another elevational view of the major part of Figure 22showing same in the inoperative position.

Figure 25 shows in part-sectional elevation fabric draw-off mechanismwith means for automatically discontinuing the draw-01T duringreciprocation of the machine.

Figure 26 is a part-sectional elevation looking in the direction ofarrow Y in Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a view in elevation, illustrating a knitting machine withthe several improvements which characterize the present invention,assembled in co-operative relationship with each other.

In a convenient embodiment of the present invention a circular knittingmachine is provided wherein all or selected of the needles employed areprovided with a plurality, e. g. two independently pivoted latchesspaced one below the other on the needle shank, a suitable needle 1being illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, said needle having upperand lower pivoted latches 2 and 3 so arranged that when the top latch 2is lowered and the bottom latch 3 raised the latter abuts against oroverlaps the former and said top latch when raised closes on to the hook4.

In producing stitches on a double latch needle as above described, ifthread is fed into the needle hook in the usual manner the old threadloop on the ,needle is cleared below the top latch 2 and is subsequentlyknocked over to produce a normal or unlocked stitch. If, however,instead of feeding the thread into the hook 4 the needle is projected toa comparatively greater extent so as to clear the old loop beneath thelowermost latch 3 and feed new thread between the two open latches 2 and3 the subsequent retraction of the needle causes a loop of newly fedthread to be drawn through and passed closely around the old loop whichis retained inthe needle hook.

It will be appreciated that the operation of needles as above to producelocked stitches necessitates a specially designed cam, while theordinary stitches are produced by -a cam of usual construction, and toenable llocked stitches to be produced atpredetermined intervals meansare provided such as hereinafter described for withdrawing the lockedstitch cam device and its associated thread feed out of operation so asnot to function on the needles, and for replacing same into theoperative or needleengaging position without discontinuing theproduction of the ordinary or unlocked stitches.

A machine will now be described by way of example wherein when thelocked stitch cam mechanism and its associated feed are in operation,alternate courses of normal and locked stitches are produced, and inFigure l the position of the ordinary stitch cam is indicated by thecomparatively low needle wave at OC, while the position of Vthe lockedstitch cam is indicated by the comparatively high needle wave at LC, aseparate thread being fed to the needles at each cam and the two threadsbeing operated on by the needles substantially in succession.

The stitch cam OC for producing the ordinary stitches is of anycustomary design and consequently needs no particular description here.y As aforestated, however, the production of locked stitchesnecessitates a specially constructed or designed cam device, and onesuitable construction of such cam device and means for moving same intoand out of operative position will now be described with particularreference to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. In thesefigures the cam device comprises four cam bits 5, 6, 7 and 8 allarranged for displacement radially of the machine, two of said bits 5and 6 being mounted on a slidable block 9 and the remaining two bits 7and 8 on a slidable block 10, said blocks 9 and l0 having tail pieces 9aand 10a respectively guided in their radial sliding movement Withinfixed brackets 11 and 12. When the cam device is in operation, i. e.projected radially inwards, the rst cam bit 5 rises to an extentsufficient to clear an old thread loop thereon below the top latch 2,the second cam bit 6 ,then lowers the needles slightly to bring said oldloop between the latches so that upon the needles then being raised bythe third cam bit 7 for receiving new thread the old thread loopfunctions to lower the bottom latch 3 and become cleared below same, thefinal cam bit 8 then operates to lower or withdraw the needles so as totake the thread between the two latches 2 and 3 and move to theknocking-over position, at which position the new thread has become tiedabout the old thread loop which is still in the needle hook asaforestated.

The needles in one half of the cylinder may be provided with long buttsand the remainder with half butts in the manner customary in circularmachines for knitting stockings where a proportion of the needles areraised out of action for knitting by reciprocation during the heel andtoe. When the radially displaceable cam device is required to be broughtinto operation after having been withdrawn, the inward movement isaccomplished in two steps through lever mechanism from the main cam drum13 of the machine. The first step is effected during the time the shortbutts are passing the cam and causes said cam first to coact with andoperate the long butt needles, the second step being effected tocomplete the inward movement while the cam is coacting with said fullbutts, thus causing said cam to operate both long and short buttneedles. If desired the locked switch cam may be approximately half thethickness of the normal stitch cam. The withdrawal of the cam iseffected in one motion.

The locked stitch cam device is projected into and normally retained inits operative position by springs 14 (Figure 8), a screw adjustment 15accurately determining the extent to which the cams are projected, andthe radial displacement 45 before-described is inoperative.

of the two cam blocks 9 and 10 to withdraw the cams out of operation maybe eected through the intermediary of two longitudinally slidable bars16, 17 each having a bevelled end face coacting with an upstanding stopor the like 18 associated with each tail piece 9a. 10a of the slidingblocks 9, 10, or with a roller 18a on said stop. The opposite end ofeach of the two bars 16, 17 is furnished with a roller or truc; 19, eachtruck coacting with the upper curved or bevelled end of a vertically orsubstantially vertical lifting rod 20, two of such rods being provided,one appertaining to the bar 16 and the other to the bar 17. The lowerend of each lifting rod 20 (which may be bevelled) coacts with the camdrum 13 on which are provided two suitably spaced cam rises 13a. The camrises 13a as (aforesaid, furnish two steps so that the falling movementof the lifting rods 20 from their respective cam rises 13a isaccomplished in two steps and permits of the cam springs 14 effecting aninitial movement of the locked stitch cam device while same coactswiththe short butts and a final movement while said cam coacts with thelong butts.

A sinker cam is also moved radially into and out of operation insynchronism with the radially displaceable locked stitch camabove-described. To this end the sinkercam 21 (Figures 11, l2 and 13) issecured on the underside of aradially displaceable carrier plate 22which is guided inA its movement in xed guides 23, a plate or portion 24intermediate the carrier 22 and cam 21 coacting with a peripheral flange25 to determine the degree of outward movement of the carrier and cam,while an adjustable screw step 26 on the carrier 22 is also adapted tocoact with said flange 25 to determine the degree of inward movement ofthe sinker cam. The sinkercam is so shaped that when same is fullyprojected inwardly the butts 27a of the sinkers 27 travel round themachine without being effected by said cam, it being understood that thesinker cam is moved to its inwardly projected or inoperative positionwhen the locked stitch cam To withdraw the sinker cam to its operativeposition, i. e. to a position wherein the sinker vbutts- 27a are causedto traverse the curved face of said cam, pivoted lever mechanism isprovided operated by a lifting rod 28 from the aforesaid cam drum 13. Inthe arrangement illustrated in the drawings a centrally pivoted lever 29is connected at its one extremity to an upstanding pin 30 on the sinkercam carrier 22 and coacts at its other extremity with an adjustablescrew stop 31a provided on an arm 31 connected to a vertical pivot orrotatable member 32 to the lower end of which member is connected asecond arm 33 coacting at its extremity with the upper curved orbevelled end/of the liftngrOd 28. A spring 34 associated with theupstanding pivot 32 serves to maintain the arm 33 in engagement with theupper end of the lifting rod 28, while a second spring 35associated'with the pivot of the lever 29 maintains one end of saidlever in engagement with the stop on the arm 3l and also functionsnormally to press the sinker cam 21 and its carrier into the inwardlyprojected position. When, however, the lifting rod 28 coacts with a rise13b on the cam 13 the aforesaid lever mechanism is displaced to withdrawthe sinker cam 21 into the operative position.

Additionally, fine adjustment of the sinker -out of operation. In onemethod of accomplishpreferably by screw mechanism, thus enabling thelength of thread loops drawn and the tightnessl of stitches produced tobe controlled. In one method of doing this, (Figures 11 and 13) ascrew-threaded spindle 36 terminating in a head 80 37 is mounted withinan, axially rotatable element 38 on the carrier plate 22, the threadedportion of said spindle 36 being screwed through an enlarged head 39 ofa pin 40 which projects down through an arcuate slot 41 in the carrier85 22 and is screwed into the sinker cam 21. By rotating the spindle 36the head 39 of the pin 40 is traversed axially on said spindle andthecam 21 thereby adjusted circumferentially of the machine. One or moreadditional headed screws 42 passing through an elongated slot or slots43 in the carrier 22 and screwed to the cam 21 function to assist in theguiding of said cam during its adjustment.

In order to ensure that, during the production of locked stitches, theold stitch loops cleared be. low the bottom needle latches are pressedtightly against the needle shanks and positively pass up at the back ofsaid latches during the lowering of the needles to take thread, anauxiliary sinker 100 cam 44 may be provided (Figure 12) adapted tooperate on the sinkers at or adjacent to the position where the needlescommence their downward or thread-drawing motion on the lock stitch cam.

This auxiliary cam 44 conveniently comprises 105 y a small arm or leverpivoted at its one end and having a curved or inclined inner faceadapted, when said arm is pressed inwardly, to coact 'with and pushforward the sinkers to a small degree so as to press the old loopsfirmly on to the needle shanks.

The inward movement of this auxiliary sinker cam 44 is advantageouslyeffected automatically by the radial movement of the main sinker cam 21acting in conjunction with the locked stitch 115 cam. This,J may beeffected through a short centrally-pivoted lever 45 coacting at its oneend,- preferably by an adjustable screw 46, with the radially guidedsinker cam carrier 22, and bearing at its other end upon aspring-pressed plunger 47 connected to the auxiliary sinker cam 44. Bythis means, when the said cam-carrying plate 22 is moved radiallyoutwards to bring the locked stitch sinker cam 21 into operation, theauxiliary cam 44 is pressed inwards against the spring 125 associatedwith said plunger 47.

Simultaneously with the radial movement of the locked stitch cam andsinker cam, a thread feed associated with said cams is moved into anding this the thread feeder may comprise a vertically guided anddisplaceable plate member 48 adapted to be depressed from thenon-feeding position to the feeding position against resistance of aspring 49 (Figure 16) by a lever 50 which extends substantiallyhorizontally from and is pivoted about a spindle 5l which constitutesthe common axis or fulcrum for pivotally dsplaceable thread feeders 52serving to feed thread to the needles at the position of the ordinary orunlocked stitch cam.

While the locked stitch cam is in operation, the feeder 48 associatedtherewith is maintained depressed by causing a lifting lever 53 to coactwith and ride upon a cam rise 54 on the aforesaid cam drum and pressupwardly upon a tail portion 50a of the aforesaid pivoted. lever 50coacting with the said feeder. When, however, the cam and feeder are tobe withdrawn from operation,-say for example when the machine recipro-150 cates for producing the heel and toe of a stocking,-the liftinglever 53 moves off the cam rise 54, thus permitting the pivoted lever 50to swing up under the influence of a spring 55 and releasing the threadfeed 48 which is raised by its associated spring 49. The movement of thefeeder can be adjusted by a screw device 56 on the coacting pivotedlever 50.

As is well known, when knitting stockings on a circular seamless machineit is the custom gradually and progressively to tighten the knitted webduring the knitting of the panel or leg towards the vfeet so as toeffect shaping of the l g, this beingaccomplished by gradually loweri gthe needle cylinder and sinker carrier or ring relatively to thecylinder needles, or alternatively by suitably displacing the'needlesand their operating cams relatively to the tricked needle cylinder andsinkers, during the process of knitting.

This operation necessarily varies to a certain degree the exact positionat which thread being fed to needles is actually laid upon said needlesby virtue of the fact that, as the sinkers are lowered relatively to theneedles, the thread extending down from the feeder bears upon theinclined `nebs or noses of a lesser numberof sinkers, and

the height of the thread-bearing portions of said sinkers relatively tothe needles receiving the thread constantly and progressively varies.

Thisl variation in the exact feeding position of thread on the needlesis in no way detrimental when feeding thread into the needle hooks inordinary knitting, but when producing locked or tied stitches asbefore-described it is very desirable that the position at which threadis fed between the latches of double latch needles should be constant.Additionally, when producing locked or ti-ed stitches it is advantageousand expedient that the draw of thread for said stitches is maintaineduniform or substantially so throughout the stocking and it will beappreciated that the gradual lowering of the sinkers relatively to theneedles inevitably varies or gradually reduces said draw.

With the object of maintainingonstant the feeding position. of thread onto the needles between the latches 2 and`3 when producing lockedstitches, irrespective of variations in the height of the needlesrelatively to the cylinder and sinkers when feeding, and also tomaintain a constant or uniform vdraw of said thread, the presentinvention includes means whereby simultaneously with the aforesaidprogressive v rtical adjustment of the needle cylinder an sinkersrelatively to the needles and needle-operating cams,

or vice versa, a gradual and progressive motion,

circumferentially of the machine is automatically imparted to the'sinker cam at the locked stitch position relatively to the sinkercarrier.

The thread fed from the feeder associated with the locked stitch cam LCextends downl at an incline and bears upon or coacts at the feedingposition withrthe top inclined edge or face of a certain number ofsinker nebs or noses, which sinkers are at this position being graduallyretracted from the needles by the sinker cam 21. It will, therefore, beappreciated that the degree of advancement of the sinkers, i. e. theradial position of the sinkers relatively to the needles, determines theheight at which the thread is laid on the needles, it being understoodthat the further the inclined thread-engaging sinker nebs projectradially inwards, the higher will be the position at which the thread isfed on the needles, and the greater will be 'the amount of thread drawnby sinker nebs due to said thread being drawn over a greater number ofsinkers. When, therefore, the needle cylinder and sinkers are graduallymoved down relatively to the needles during knitting of a stocking paneltowards the foot for the purpose of tightening the stitches, the heightof the feeding position of thread between the needle latches is variedand a gradually decreasing amount ofsaid thread drawn. To obviate this,the sinker cam 21 which effects the retraction of the sinkers at thefeeding position is gradually displaced circumferentially of the machineduring the aforesaid stitch-tightening operation, said circumferentialdisplacement being such that as the height of the sinkers is varied thedegree of radial projection th'ereof is adjusted so that the actualfeeding height of the thread over the sinkers on a needle and the drawof said thread is maintained constant.

In a 'convenient method of accomplishing this (Figures 17 to 19) atapered nose 57a on a lever 57 is gradually projected in between theface of a projecting lug 58 on the circumference of the sinker camcarrying ring 59, Oor an vadjustable screw 60 carried by the said lug58, and an opposed face of a xed part 61 such as the vertical bracketcarrying the customary latch ring, the projection of said tapered member57a causing the said cam ring 59 to be rotated gradually toalcomparatively small extent simultaneously with the vertical adjustmentof theV needle cylinder and sinkers.

Advantageously the movement of the tapered member 57a is effected fromthe same mechanism as that by which the vertical adjustment of thecylinder and sinkers relatively to the needles is accomplished. Forexample, in machines where this adjustment is produced from anintermittently rotatable cam 62, a lever 63 having a screw or part 64coacting with said cam has upwardly extending rod 65 which passes at itsupper part freely through the bed-plate of the machine. The upper end ofthis rod 65 is adjustably pivoted by pinand slot connection to the lowerpart of the lever 57 which may be of substantially Z-shape which ispivoted between its ends to a relatively stationary part,vthe upper partof said lever projecting inwards radially of the machine cylinder andterminating in the aforesaid tapered or bevelled nose 57a.

As the aforesaid cam rotates the Z-shaped lever 57 is gradually turnedon its pivot to project the tapered nose 57a with a wedging action inbetweenthe opposed faces of the number 60 o n the sinker cam ring 59 andthe latch ring bracket 61. A spring 66 assists in withdrawing thetapered nose from its projected position. l

The progressive vertical adjustment of the needle cylinder and sinkercarrier may be effected in the known manner from the cam 62 through thelever 63 which is suitably connected to an arcuate lever 67 pivotalabout a shaft or spindle 68, the arcuate lever 67 having adjustablyconnected thereto the lower end of an upwardlyextending member 69, whichin turn is suitably connected to the needle cylinder and 115 pivotallyconnected thereto the lower end of an rant 73 thereby producedoscillation of the lever 71 to operate the pawl and ratchet device 70.

When the locked stitch cam mechanism and associated thread feed arethrown out of operation (e. g. when knitting the heel and toe of astocking) it is advisable that the thread fed by the locked stitchfeeder 48 be trapped and severed. To this end when said feeder is raisedout of operation the thread therefrom is carried round by the needlesbeneath a trapper device which is additional to the existing trapper,and is passed between a pair of cutters or shears and severed.

In Figures 20-and 21 the trapper plate is shown at 74 on which aremounted the customary spring or resilient trapping elements 75, 76,beneath which threads fed from ordinary thread feeders operating in theusual feeding throat 77 are passed and trapped, an additional pivotallymounted trapping element 78 being also provided for said threads. severthese threads are provided at 79, and the operation of said cutters iseffected in the known manner from a rise or`step 80 on the main cam drumor its equivalent through a suitable rodl or lever 81 adapted to coactwith said step 80 and the end of a lever 82 pivoted between itsextremities at 83 and having connected thereto a vertically slidablemember 84. This slide 84 carries one of the cutting elements and thepair of cutters 79, the other element of said pair being stationary.When the rod 81 rises upon the step 80 the lever 82 is displaced tolower the slide 84 and by means of a pin 85 moving' with said slideoscillate the pivoted trapping member 78 to lift same and permit threadto pass thereunder; the cutters 79 being simultaneously opened. When.the rod 81 fallsfrom the rise 80 the pivoted spring-influenced trapper78 is released to trap the thread and the cutters 79 are operated tosever same.

At a part or extension 74a of the trapper plate 74 is mounted anadditional resilient trapping strip or element 86 having an upturned endwhich permits of the thread fed from the locked stitch feeder 48,located at the throat 87 passing beneath said element 86 so as to betrapped thereby. The additional cutter device for the locked stitchthread is constituted by a pair of cutter blades 88 one of which isstationary, while the other is suitably connected to the aforesaidvertically sliding member 84. When the locking thread feeder is thrownout of operation the rise or step 80 operates through the rod 81, lever82 and slide 84 to open the cutters 88 and simultaneously lift apivotally displaceable springinuenced trapper 89, the thread being drawnround beneath the two trapping elements 86 and 89 and between the cutterblades 88. 'Ihe falling of the rod 81 from the step 80 then operates thepivoted trapper 89 and cutters 88 as beforedescribed with reference tothe ordinary thread trapping and cutting device.

)As is well known, during reciprocation of the machine in producing theheel and toe of a stocking, a fraction of the complete row of needles,say

one half, is raised above the feeding height, and picking elements arebrought into operation for sequentially raising the remainder of theneedles and subsequently lowering same .in the customary `rnanner. Byreason of the employment of double latch needles in a machine accordingto this inyvention the possibility exists that during reciprocation thefed thread may be engaged by or foul the bottom latch ofcertainof theraised needles,

The cutters operating to and in order positively to avoid this, twosmall ,auxiliary cam elements 90 are employed adapted,

during reciprocation, to coact with the` butts on the raised needles ashort distance prior to the thread feeding position of the ordinarystitch cam -CC (see Figures 3 and 4). These cams 90 func#- tion to liftthe already raised needles to a slightly higher position, and therebyprevent the thread coming in contact with the bottom needle latch 3. Itis to be understood that one of the aforesaid small auxiliary camsoperates on the needles when moving in one direction, while the secondcam operates on the needles when moving in the opposite direction, andsaid cams 90 necessarily function at each motion because the customaryneedle-levelling cam 91 lowers the raised needles slightly at eachmotion.

The raising vof the aforesaid half or fraction of the row of needles tothe inoperative position during reciprocation and the subsequentlowering ofsame to the operative position is effected by the customarypivotally mounted switch cam 92, said switch cam being shown in full inFigure 3, of the drawings in a position for lowering the needles afterreciprocation, and in dotted lines in a position for raising same at the,commencement of reciprocation. n

The invention also includes the production of tuck stitch mock fashionmarks in a stocking or Ythe like, by lockingor tying the tuck stitchesThe selected needles onforming said marks. which the tuck stitches areto be produced, are provided with long butts which at the required timeare engaged by an inwardly projected inclined cam element 93 which islocated at the position immediately in front of the thread feedappertaining to the ordinaryor unlocked stitch cams OC and operates toimpart a downward movement toi said selected 'needles so that same willnot rise to a clearing height but will take new thread and ,also retainthe old loops, said selected needles carrying the two loops then passingon to the second or lock stitch cam LC and feeder so as to lock or tiethe tuck stitch produced at the preceding cam OC.

One convenient method of moving the mockfashion cam element 93 into andout of operation is illustrated in Figures 22, 23 and`24 wherein the cam93 is radially slidable within a fixed bracket 94 carried on the needlebed. Normally the cam 93 is retained withdrawn by associated springmeans, not shown, and with the outer face of said cam coacts anadjustable screw 95 atfthe 'one end of a centrally pivoted lever 96, theother end of said lever bearing upon an upper bevelled portion or face97 of a downwardly extending bar or rod 98, said bar being pivoted' atits-lower extremity to a freely mounted crank arm 99 adapted tooscillate about an oscillatory spindle 100. On

the spindle 100 is keyed or otherwise xed a crank arm 101 having a lugor nose portion 102 at its free end adapted to coact with a travellingchain 103,..on which chain isl provided a series of upstanding links orbits 104. On the spindle 100 is also fixed a further crank arm 105 onwhich is formed or provided an arm. or extension 106 suitably shaped soas to project at its free end be neath a horizontal or substantiallyhorizontal bar 107 to which reciprocation is continually imparted fromthe customary toothed quadrant 73 provided on the machine. Thereciprocating bar 107 has adjustably or otherwise secured thereto aplate portion 108 with bevelled face 108a.

Normally, when the cam bit 93 is not required t0 operate the nose 102 ofthe crank arm 101 coacts with the chain 103 at a position void of theupstanding bits 104, and during this operation the reciprocating bar 107moves to and fro at such a level that, although the bevelled portion 108thereon coacts with the truck 109 on the bar 98 so as vertically toreciprocate said bar at each motion of the bar 107, the height to whichthe bar 98 is moved is insufficient to operate upon and pivotallydisplace the lever 96 coacting with the cam 93./ When, however, the cam93 is to be moved into operation the Anose 102 on the crank arm 101coactswith the upstanding bits 104 on the chain 103 and by so doing theoscillatory spindle 100 is partially rotated so as to lift thereciprocating bar 107 to a. higher level through the medium of arms 105,106. This, of course, also raises the bar 98, and the reciprocation ofthe bar 107 will then, by reason of the traverse of the truck 109 up anddown the bevelled face 108a, oscillate the lever 96, and on eachalternate motion of said bar 107 the cam 93 will be projected intooperation to act upon the selected needles.

The toothed quadrant 73 is customarily provided on a seamless stockingmachine for imparting reciprocating motion tothe needle cylinder duringthe production of the stocking heel and toe, and the motion imparted .tosaid quadrant is usually such that the time taken in completing a to andfro movement of the quadrant is equal or approximately equal to the timetaken for four complete revolutions of the cylinder when circular ortubular knitting is being effected. By reason of this comparatively slowmovement of the quadrant, it will be appreciated that the cam 93 can betimed to operate on the selected needles o n every fourth course duringtubular or circular knitting. 4

Means are also incorporated in the present invention for interruptingthe drawing-off or takeup of the knitted fabric during the reciprocationof the machine, e. g. during the production of the heel and toe of astocking, thereby preventing drag on said fabric and possible distortionthereof.

The drawing-off mechanism is advantageously of the known type comprisinga pair of circumferentially-engaged rollers 110, either or both of whichmay be felt covered and/or plated, said rollers being rotatably mountedat the lower part of the usual fabric or web tube 111 so that the saidfabric passes between same. These rollers 110 are intermittently rotatedduring the circular motiony of the machine so as to withdraw the fabricstep by step down the tube. The intermittent rotation of the take-uprollers -in opposite directions may be effected by the known mechan ismembodying a vertically slidable T-plate or bar 112 carrying a pair ofsuitable pawls 113 which coact with a pair of ratchet wheels 114 mountedone at the extremity of each of the takeup roller spindles. During thefull circular motion of the machine the pawl-carrying member 112 isvertically reciprocated to rotate the ratchets and rollers associatedtherewith in opposite directions and thereby draw the fabric downwardlybetween said rollers. The take-up rollers are resiliently pressed intoengagement with each other by spring plungers or the like. It will beappreciated that in a machine whereV the needles are rotated relativelyto non-rotating cams the fabric produced is also 'rotated together withthe take-up rollers, ands. during such rotation the aforesaid verticallydisplaceable pawl carrying member 112 coacts once at each revolutionwith a cam element 115 which functions to effect re-v ciprocation ofsaid member 112.

If now, when the machine is reciprocating, the cam element 115 isretained in a position wherein same does not engage with the member 112,the take-up rollers 110 are retained from rotation on their axes and thedrawing off of the fabric is discontinued. To accomplish this a suitablymounted cam disc 116 or the like is provided which rotates once duringthe production of a complete stocking or sock, said cam havingcircumferential recesses 116a therein. Adapted to ride on thecircumferential face of this cam disc 116 is an arm or part 117connected at the one end of an approximately horizontally disposed lever118 pivoted between its extremities, the opposite end of the said lever118 being bevelled and coactingwith an oppositely bevelled end of afurther approximately horizontal lever 119 also pivoted between itsextremities. This last named lever carries at its opposite end anadjustable pin or stud 120 which is adapted to bear upon aspring-pressed plunger 121 carried by and projecting up from the pivotedcam lever or arm 115 which is adapted to coact with the beforementionedvertically displaceable pawl carrying member 112 coacting with theratchets on the take-up rollers 110.

When the machine commencesto reciprocate, say for producing the heel ortoe of a stocking, the arm 117 coacting with the rotating cam disc 116enters one of the recesses or depressions 116a in the circumferentialface of said disc, and in so doing the pivoted cam element 115 is raisedunder the influence of a spring associated with the plunger 121 to aposition wherein the pawlcarrying member 112 will not be engaged by saidcam; and in this way the reciprocation of the pawl-carrying member isprevented and the takeup of the fabric is interrupted.

The take-up recommences as soonas the arm 117 or the like coacting withthe cam disc 11 is moved out of a recess 116a in said disci f By reasonof needles being employed having two latches as before described, it ispreferable to provide the throat ring 122 with two inclined or bevelledfaces 123 operating to lower any of the latches 2, 3, which may be swungoutwardly while passing a throat during reciprocatory motion in eitherdirection.

It will, of course. be appreciated that additional or reinforcingthreads can be introduced at predetermined intervals by the employmentin thev machine of additional displaceable thread feeders in a inannerwell-known in seamless stocking and other knitting machines. For exampleone or more splicing threads can be introduced in the heel and toe of astocking and a different re-inforcing thread or threads in the sole inaccordance with customary practice.

So also, a machine according to the present invention may embodywell-known mechanism and automatically produce a pocket heel and apocket toe, the machine operating to produce sequentially a tubular leg,a pocket heel, a tubular foot, and a pocket toe, all in the orderstated; and in a stocking or sock, so produced, it will be understoodthat the part or parts of the article to be composed of non-ladder orlocked stitch fabric can be variably determined to suit desiredrequirements. For example, the entire stocking or sock, with theexception of the heel or toe, may be composed of locked stitch fabric.

I claim:-

l. A circular knitting machine for manufacturing seamless stockings,socks and the like comprising, in combination, a knitting cam operatingto produce locked or tied stitches, a knitting cam operating to produceordinary or normal stitches, a separate thread feed appertaining to eachof said knitting cams, means whereby the knitting cam for producinglocked stitches and its associated thread feed are automaticallydisplaced to an inoperative position when the machine commencesreciprocation, e. g. when commencing to knit the heel and toe portionsof a stocking., or sock, and means whereby said locked stitch knittingcam and associated thread feed are automatically brought into 'operationat the termination of said reciprocatory motion, the knitting operationby the ordinary stitch mechanism being uninterrupted by the displacementof the locked stitch knitting cam` 2. A circular knitting machinecomprising in combination a plurality of latches pivoted one below theother on the needle shank, a knitting cam operating upon said needles toproduce locked or tied stitches, a `knitting cam operating upon theneedles to produce ordinary or normal stitches, a thread feed associatedwith each knitting cam, a sinker cam associated with a locked stitchknitting cam, means for radially displacing' the locked stitch knittingcam and its associated sinker cam into and out of operative position,and means for moving into and out of operation in synchronism thelockedl stitch knitting cam and its associated sinker cam and threadfeed at predetermined intervals without interfering with the continuedknitting operation by the ordinary stitch cam.

3. In a circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 2 an auxiliary camoperated automatically by the radial movement of the main sinker camassociated with the locked stitch knitting cam, said auxiliary camcoacting with the sinkers to cause same to press stitch loops clearedbelow the bottom latches of the needles tightly against the needleshanks at the time said needles.

are being retracted or lowered.

4. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 2 and including meansfor gradually and progressively adjusting the height of theneedlecylinder and sinker carrier relatively to the cylinder needlesduring the knitting process in combination with means wherebysimultaneously with said progressive vertical adjustment the sinker camappertaining to the locked stitch knitting ca m is automaticallyadjusted relatively to' the sinker carrier by a gradual and progressivemotion circumferentially of the machine for the purpose specified.

5. In a circular knitting machine as claimed in claiml 2, means forgradually and progressively adjusting the height of the needle cylinderand sinker carrierI relatively to the cylinder needles during theknitting of a stocking leg for producing a gradual stiffening ortightening-up of the knitted stitches, means whereby simultaneously withthe said progressive vertical adjustment the sinker cam associated withthe locked' stitch knitting cam is adjusted relatively to the sinkercarrier by gradual and progressive motion circumferentially of themachine, said; circumferential adjustment of the sinker cam beingautomatically effected by a gradual radial movement of a tapered elementbetween a part moving with the sinker cam carrier and a relativelystationary part, and

,1 said radial displacement of the tapered member being effected throughlever mechanism from a rotary cam device which also controls the pro--gressive vertical adjustment of the needle cylinder and sinkersrelatively to the needles.

6. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 2 and includingtrapping and severing means for the thread fed by the feeder or feedersassociated with the locked stitch knitting cam in addition to trappingand severing means for the thread associated with the ordinary or normalknitting cam, the additional thread cutter device being operated throughthe same mechanism as that operating the cutter which severs theordinary knitting yarn or yarns.

7. In a circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 2 adapted for theproduction of stockings and socks, vmeans for raising and maintaining inan inoperative position a fraction of the complete row of needles duringreciprocation of the machine, two additional radially projecting earnelements adapted during reciprocation to coact with butts on the raisedinoperative needles and lift same toa higher level prior' to threadfeeding, one of said cam elements operating on the needles when movingin one direction and the second cam operating on the needles when movingin an opposite direction, and said two cam elements being radiallyadjustable or displaceable.

8. In a circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 2A for theproduction of stockings and socks, means whereby at predeterminedintervals` selected of the needles operate to produce tuck stitchesadjacent to the position of the thread feed appertaining to the ordinaryor normal knitting cam, said selected needles being subsequentlyoperated upon by the locked stitch knitting cam so as to lock or tie thetuck stitches produced, the operation of the selected needles forproducing tuck stitches being effected by a radially displaceable cam,lever mechanism functioning to move said cam into operation atpredetermined or selected knitted courses, said lever mechanism beingintermittently operated by a continuously reciprocating member, and saidreciprocating member being moved into and out of positionior operatingupon said lever mechanism by an arm or like coacting with a travellingchain or equivalent member.

9. A circular knitting machine comprising needles having a plurality oflatches pivoted one below the other on the needle shank, a knitting camoperating upon said needles to produce locked or tied stitches, aknitting cam operating upon the needles to produce ordinary or normalstitches, a thread feed associated with each knitting cam, a sinker camassociated with a locked stitch knitting cam, the locked stitch knittingcam and its associated sinker cam being radially displaceable into andout of operative position, means for moving into and out of operation insynchronismthe locked stitch knitting cam and its associated sinker camand thread feed at predetermined intervals without interfering with thecontinued knitting operation by the ordinary stitch cams and means forinterrupting the drawing-off or take-up of thel knitted fabric duringreciprocatory motion Aof the machine.

10. A circular knitting machine as claimed in claim 9 includingintermittently and oppositely rotating rollers between which the fabricis drawn off, cam-operated lever mechanism functioning periodically tointerrupt the rotation ofsaid rollers, said cam-operating levermechanism functioning normally to press a spring-iniiuenced cam elementto a position wherein same is engaged at each revolution of the machineby a spring-influenced sliding member carrying a pawl or pawls coactingwith ratchets to impart intermittent rotation to the drawing-offrollers, and said cam-operated lever mechanism also functioning atpredetermined intervals to release said spring-influenced cam elementand allow same to move to a position wherein the said pawl and ratchetdevice is rendered inoperable and the fabric draw-01T stopped.

11. A circular knitting machine for the automatic production of seamlessstockings or socks, embodying needles, a knitting cam operating uponsaid needles to produce locked or tied stitches, a knitting camoperating upon the needles to produce ordinary or normal stitches, athread feed associated with each knitting cam, a sinker cam associatedwith a lockedstitch knitting cam, the locked stitch knitting cam and itsassociated sinker cam being radially displaceable into and out ofoperative position, means for moving into and out of operation insynchronism the locked stitch knitting cam and its associated sinker camand thread feed at predetermined intervals without interfering with thecontinued knitting operation by the ordinary stitch cam, trapping andsevering means for the thread fed at the ordinary knittingcam, separatetrapping and severing means for the thread fed at the locked stitchknitting cam, and means for automatically interrupting the fabricdraw-off during reciprocation of the machine.

12. A circular knitting machine for automatically 'manufacturingthroughout a seamless stocking, sock or the like and comprising, in combination, a knitting cam operating to produce ordinary or normalstitches, a knitting cam operating to produce locked or tied stitches,separate thread feeding means appertaining to each of said knittingcams, means whereby said two knitting cams and their thread feedscooperate to produce normal stitches and locking or tying stitches onthe same needles, and means whereby the knitting cam and its associatedthread feed for producing locked stitches are automatically renderedoperative and inoperative at predetermined times without interferingwith the continued knitting operation by the ordinary knitting cam.

13. A circular knitting machine for automatically manufacturingthroughout a seamless stocking, sock or the like and comprising, incombination, two knitting cams and a separate thread feed associatedwith each cam, said two cams operating in succession on the same needlesto produce normal stitches and stitches which lock or tie said normalstitches by passing thread loops through and closely around other threadloops, and means whereby the knitting cam and its associated thread feedfor producing locked stitches are automatically rendered operative andinoperative at predetermined times without interfering with thecontinued knitting operation by the ordinary knitting cam.

ROBERT KIRKLAND MILLS.

